In mid-October 2024, the company officially launched production of the ALTRA FLEX® oxide ceramic continuous fibers in K99 and M75 qualities, making it the first European supplier to offer a solution for composite material manufacturers and manufacturers and processors of heat-resistant fabrics. The new production facility will initially produce up to 10 tons of fibers per year.
“Drawing on 35 years of experience in the development and production of high-temperature ceramic fibers, RATH is always looking for innovative ways to develop new, pioneering product solutions for industry. The addition of ALTRA FLEX® oxidic ceramic continuous fiber in two grades has enabled us to once again expand our broad portfolio of pioneering solutions,” said Christopher Kluthe, Senior R&D Manager, RATH.
RATH is the first European supplier of oxidic ceramic continuous fibers
Continuous oxide ceramic fibers are widely used, especially as reinforcing fibers in various matrices (CMC, MMC). Due to their high tensile strength and stiffness as well as their excellent chemical and thermal resistance, continuous fibers can, for example, provide ceramic matrices with quasi-ductile, damage-tolerant fracture behavior.
“These continuous fibers are an important raw material for the production of oxide ceramic matrix composites. However, the manufacturing process for these fibers is complex – there are very few suppliers worldwide, which can make it difficult to establish secure supply chains,” says Christopher Kluthe, Senior R&D Manager, RATH.
The new product makes RATH the first reliable European supplier to offer a solution for composite material manufacturers and heat-resistant fabric manufacturers and processors.
An annual production of up to 10 tons of oxide ceramic continuous fibers is planned
The fibers, produced using the sol-gel process with a dry spinning technique, have a mullite or corundum microstructure after their thermal treatment. To date, RATH has developed the corundum fiber K99 (with a tensile strength of up to 3,000 MPa and an E-modulus of over 350 GPa) and the mullite fiber M75 (with a tensile strength of up to 1,500 MPa and an modulus of elasticity of over 200 GPa). Other qualities, especially those with higher creep resistance, are already in development. Initially, up to 10 tons of oxide ceramic continuous fibers are to be produced annually in the new production plant.
